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Infectious Disorders

  • Chapter
Neuropsychiatric Features of Medical Disorders

Part of the book series: Critical Issues in Psychiatry ((CIPS))

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Abstract

The number of organisms that can affect the central nervous system to produce mental or behavioral changes is legion. Virtually any infection may alter brain functioning, either by direct invasion, secondary systemic effects, or postinfection allergic responses. The result may be vague neuropsychiatric disturbances, or the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder associated with infection, delirium. In general, mental status changes produced by infection are nonspecific and have no direct relationship to the specific organism involved. Neuropsychiatric changes may be noted in response to a wide variety of bacterial, viral, mycotic, spirochetal, rickettsial, and protozoal infections. Although syphilis, malaria, and tuberculosis were once prominent offenders, viral infections are probably most common at the present time. Certain infectious diseases that merit special attention because psychiatric features may be marked are discussed below. (See Hepatic section for infectious hepatitis.)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin, USA

    James W. Jefferson M.D. & John R. Marshall M.D.

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  1. James W. Jefferson M.D.
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  2. John R. Marshall M.D.
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© 1981 Plenum Publishing Corporation

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Jefferson, J.W., Marshall, J.R. (1981). Infectious Disorders. In: Neuropsychiatric Features of Medical Disorders. Critical Issues in Psychiatry. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3920-5_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3920-5_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-3922-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-3920-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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